Men. I could myself Take up a brace of the best of them; yea, the two tribunes. Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetick; And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands Against a falling fabrick.-Will you hence Before the tag return 25 whose rage doth rend Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear What they are used to bear. Men. Pray you, be gone: I'll try whether my old wit be in request With those that have but little; this must be patch'd With cloth of any colour. Com. Nay, come away. [Exeunt CORIOLANUS, COMINIUS, and Others. 1 Pat. This man has marr'd his fortune. Men. His nature is too noble for the world: He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, Or Jove for his power to thunder. His heart's his mouth : What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent; Here's goodly work! 2 Pat. [A Noise within. I would they were a-bed! Men. I would they were in Tyber!-What, the vengeance, Could he not speak them fair. Re-enter BRUTUS and SICINIUS, with the Rabble. Sic. Where is this viper, That would depopulate the city, and Be every man himself? 5 Before the tag return?] The lowest and most despicable of the populace are still denominated by those a little above them, Tag, rag, and bobtail. Men. You worthy tribunes, Sic. He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock With rigorous hands; he hath resisted law, And therefore law shall scorn him further trial Than the severity of the publick power, Which he so sets at nought. 1 Cit. He shall well know, Men. Do not cry, havock, where you should but Hear me speak: Consul!-what consul? He a consul! As I do know the consul's worthiness, Sic. Men. The consul Coriolanus. Cit. No, no, no, no, no. Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people, I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two; The which shall turn you to no further harm, Than so much loss of time. Sic. Speak briefly then; For we are peremptory, to despatch This viperous traitor: to eject him hence, Were but one danger; and, to keep him here, Men. Now the good gods forbid, That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude Sic. He's a disease, that must be cut away. What has he done to Rome, that's worthy death? Were to us all, that do't, and suffer it, A brand to the end o'the world. Sic. Bru. Merely awry: country, It honour'd him. Men. This is clean kam." When he did love his The service of the foot Being once gangren'd, is not then respected Bru. We'll hear no more : Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence ; Lest his infection, being of catching nature, Spread further. Men. One word more, one word. This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find The harm of unscann'd swiftness, will, too late, Tie leaden pounds to his heels. Proceed by process ; Lest parties (as he is belov'd) break out, And sack great Rome with Romans. • Towards her deserved children -] Deserved, for deserving. 7 This is clean kam.] i. e. Awry. So Cotgrave interprets, Tout va à contrepoil. All goes clean kam. Hence a cambrel for a crooked stick, or the bend in a horse's hinder leg. The Welsh word for crooked is kam. 8 * Merely awry:] i. e. absolutely. If it were so Bru. Sic. What do ye talk? Have we not had a taste of his obedience? Our Ediles smote? ourselves resisted?-Come: 1 Sen. Noble tribunes, It is the humane way: the other course Sic. Noble Menenius, Be you then as the people's officer :— Bru. Go not home. Sic. Meet on the market-place :-We'll attend you there: Where, if you bring not Marcius, we'll proceed In our first way. Men. I'll bring him to you: Let me desire your company. [To the Senators.] He must come, Or what is worst will follow. 1 Sen. Pray you let's to him. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Room in Coriolanus's House. Enter CORIOLANUS, and Patricians. Cor. Let them pull all about mine ears; present Death on the wheel, or at wild horses' heels; 1 Pat. Enter VOLUMNIA. You do the nobler. my mother Cor. I muse, my Does not approve me further, who was wont To speak of peace, or war. [TO VOLUMNIA. Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me False to my nature? Rather say, I play The man I am. I would have had you put your power well on, Cor. Let go. Vol. You might have been enough the man you are, With striving less to be so: Lesser had been You had not show'd them how you were dispos'd Cor. Vol. Ay, and burn too. Let them hang. 9 I muse,] That is, I wonder, I am at a loss. |